Charlotte native and Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. arrested in Florida on multiple felony charges

Arrest followed reported domestic dispute and vehicle crash in Miami-Dade County

Atlanta Falcons rookie defender James Pearce Jr., a Charlotte native, was arrested Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on multiple felony charges after a reported domestic dispute and an attempted flight from police that ended with a vehicle crash, authorities said.

Pearce was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Jail records listed felony counts that included two charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking, and fleeing or eluding law enforcement with lights and siren. Additional charges reported in booking and media accounts included aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence, and related offenses. Bond information was not consistently reported across initial public updates, indicating the case was still moving through the early booking and court-review process as of Sunday.

Police response in Doral and identification of the other party

The incident began in Doral, a city in Miami-Dade County, where officers responded to a reported domestic dispute between a man and a woman. Law enforcement officials said Pearce left the scene and was later pursued by police. The pursuit ended when his vehicle crashed, after which he was taken into custody.

WNBA player Rickea Jackson, a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, was identified by law enforcement as the other individual involved in the reported dispute. Public reports did not include detailed allegations about the underlying events leading to the call for service, and no formal case narrative had been released in the initial reporting.

Team and league context

The Falcons acknowledged Pearce’s arrest in a brief statement and said the organization was gathering information, offering no further comment while the legal matter remained open.

Pearce was selected 26th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and emerged as a leading pass-rush contributor during his rookie season. Publicly reported season statistics credited him with 10.5 sacks, and he finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

What is known about the charges

• Arrest date and location: Feb. 7, 2026, in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
• Booking location: Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
• Felony charges reported in jail records: two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon; aggravated stalking; fleeing or eluding police with lights and siren.

At this stage, the case centers on booking records and police statements describing a domestic-dispute call, a flight from officers, and a crash prior to Pearce’s arrest.

The legal process will determine whether charges are amended, dropped, or pursued, and whether additional details become public through court filings. Charlotte.news will continue to report developments as confirmed information becomes available.